Cloth-cutting machine



F. 1 CLARK 1,7 15,447

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE June.4, 1929.

Fliled Sept. 50, 1926 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 HTTORMXS June 4, 1929.

F. J. CLARK 1,715,447

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 50, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rnnpnnioz Jl cLARn, or Brrrrnno, NEW Yoan, 'assrenoi see -ooiirrn'nmor' nnrreno, new Yann.

eLoTH-onr'rrne Machina. i

' .appnnon ined September ao, 1828. vsriai no. iaaess.

seetion i being taken a .line 87--8, of Fig. 4.' i i 111 the illustrated embo This inventionrclates to cloth Cutting` machines, and particularly to the support and control of the presser foot thereof. i w

flfm object of the invention is to provide an improved cloth eutting machine, iniwhichthe movements of the presser foot may be j conveniently controlled in la simple manner i by the ingers ofonels hand'while that hand Vis manipulating the machine; in which ,the .presser foot .and its controlling` mechanism maybe easily and quichly applied to or vre-` 1 movod from the machine in a simple manner; inwvhich Jdie presser foot and itsl controlling` meehanism may be forniedto a maximum extent from stamped sheet metal and With a mininnun'of machine Operations; in which vthe presser foot and its .controlling` mechanisin may bo assembled With a minimum of, attaching;` members; and in which the presser footV and' its supporting vand controlling mechanism Will he rolatively simple, durable, effective, convenient, and relatively inexpensive. I

Various other objects and advantages VWill bo, apparent from' the followingdescription of an embodimcnt of the' invention, and the novel features Will be particularlypointed out hereinafter in connection Withl the append'ed claims. i In the accompanying drawings: :V i Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of a'cloth Cutting machinel having a p ser foot and its controlling' mcchanism constructed in accordanco With this invention; l

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thesame; i

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a presser foot and part of its controlling mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, but on a somewhat larger scale, and. With certain of the parts partially in section to better show certain details;

I Figf is a side elevation of part of the machine, as viewed from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 5 is an inside elevation of the means for mounting and controlling the 'presser foot; i i i 4 i Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of the same, With the section takenrapproximatcly.along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; v

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the means for supporting and controlling' the presser foot,

` somewhat Vsimilar to'Fig. 3, but illustrating the parts in a different relative position; and

Big. 8 is a sectional plan of. a portion of the 'presser foot controlling mechanisin, the

dinient of; the in'-V standard frame lhaving a relatively fiatgand 'i thm supportmg base 2, :which is bevelledor tapered alongits forwardedge as at, sofas cut.v A VCutting knife'fis mounted 'in the standard l for Vertical reciprooatiom With vits Cutting edgeV extending forwardly from vthe standard, andv an operating'motor 5 carried is connected through suitable mechanisin common in the 'art' to the knife 4 for reoiprocatlngthesame. A/handle 6 extends laterally from 'the standard frame 1 and in a direction -rearwardly from the knife Li, by Which'the machine may be manipulated and pu'shed for- Wardly and turned'during the Cutting operation. rlfhe details justdescribed are old lin the art and per se'form no :part of the present mvention.

the standard frame 1, and at one side carries a Wing nut 8 and at its other side an-enlarged underfaceof the head in a direction parallel to the shank of the boltfor short distance. .The standardframe 1 is provided Withfan the bolt Will be hold against rotation While ard frame. The standard frame is also pro-i vided, in the area through which` the `bolts'? passes, With a slotor groove 11, the groove extending rearwardly along one' face from a forward edge. i

12 is providedwith a tongue 13 extending` fits and slides in. the 'groove 11 ,(see particularly lfig; 4). This tongue is provided with w a slot 14 extending inwardly from its free end,`` and this slot is of such a width and located at vsuch a point asto embrace the shank of the rearwardly in the groovell. By :tightening the Wing' nut 8, the bolt 7 may be vused to clamp the bracket 12 to one side of ,the stand-` ard, With the bracket 12? exten din o; forwardly therefrom and then` ('rosswise in front of the same; The pinv is slidingly received in the that the sl0t111 Will clear the sameas the n :co nnfsrivmnivmcnrnn w pp'roximately along the t i Vent1on, the cloth: cutting machine includes z i readily to :runheneath a. pile'of c'loth'toV the:

upon the upper end of the standard frame 1 A bolt 7j'extends from side to side through head 9 having 'a pin 10 extended 'from the. f

B5 i aperture inwhich the pin 10 `slides, so that V ,being free to slide endvvise throughfthe stand-v One armiof a somewhat Lshaped hracket i from an ,edge thereo'fand in its plane, which r bolt 7 helowthe head r9 asthe tongue moves i i standard frame 1 at the level of the bolt 7 so I I bracket is attached to or removed from the' standard frame.

In the'forward face of the free arm of the L-shaped bracket 12, I may provide a Vertically extending channel 15, which channel 'may be closed Vby Va sheet metal plate 16 se-l cured over the channel face of the bracket12 w in' any suitable manner, suchias by machine screwsyl' which pass 'through theplate and into the bracliet. A tongue V18 is struck out fromthe Vplate rearwardly at one side 'of the free end edge of the outerarm'of'thc bracket,

^ and .an ear 19 is bent rearwardly from the plate'lG at one side of and parallel toV the tongue 18. The tongue `isprovided with a' slot 20 from its free end edge, which in' realityv .divides the tongue 18 into two separate tongues `A bar orplate 21 is insertededgel wise in the slot 20, so as to rock in the slot upon the slot walls Vasa fulcrum, one end of the plate or'bar 21 extending into close prox- Vimity to the ear 19, and the other end of the bar 'or plate 21 extending beneath the eliannel'of the bracket 12.H The latter end-.of the rplate or bar. 21V is provided with an aperture or slot 22 through which a spindle 23 of the lpresser foot 211 passes, the spindlev 23 being .slidingly' confined in the groove 15 by the plate 16. Thus the sliding moveinents of the presser foot toward and from the clothbeing cut willbe Controlled by the bar orplate 21 which actsthereonin the nature of a clutch,

i lthe plate21 tilting into a position .oblique to the'spindle to bind the latter against moveinent, and into a plane normal' to the axis of the spindle to release the latter.

` i lVhen the plate or bar 21'1s in a Plane nor;

mal to the spindle23, the spindle and its presser foot may reciprocate vertically `in either direction without hindrance, but when 'the plate 01' bar 21 is rocked about the walls of the slot20 fulcrums, it will assume a position slightlyroblique or Vinclined to the' spindle 23, and will bind the same in a man- Aner to restrictl the endwise movements of the latter. The lower edge of the bracket 12' .servcs to limit roclin'g movement of the plate or bar'21 in one dircction, and a tongue 25 may be bent rearwardly from the lower edge of the plate 16 beneath the end of the "plate or bar 21 through which the spin'dle passes, so as to limit movement of thefplate or .bar 21 in the other direction beyond a position' in which it is subst'antially normal to the spindle 23.

A lever 26 is pivoted byV a screw`27 to the o rearwardly extendingvear of the plate 16,

and at'its end nearestthe plate 16 is provided with a slot 28 which extends inwardly from its freevend and receives the adjacent end of the bar' or plate 21, so that when the leveris rocked, the plate 'or bar 21 will be rocked into :and out of a position in which it binds the spindle 23. The inner end of the slot 28 may be somewhat wider than the entrance Ven'd which embraces the plate or bar 21, so as to avoid binding'. 'The free 01'l Arearward end of the lever 26 extends along a side of the standard frame 1, and terminates ata point closely adjacent the handle 6, as shown clearlyin Fig. 1,'so that it may be engaged and operated by the finger of one7s handl 'which is graspmg the handle while manipu-V lating the machine land withoutreinoving that hand from the handle. Thus,lone may manipula'tevthe machine vin the Vdesired manner and at the same time 'with a' finger of J(he same hand opera-te the lever 26 to release the i lspindle 23 and permit the prcsser foot to vfall x or rise to maintain' in'- proper venga'gementi with 'the material being cut.

vA leaf spring 29 is secured toan ear. 30 which 1s turned rearwardly from the lower edge of the plate 16. The'leaf springxbears beneath the rearwardly extending arm of the Vlever 26, and .yieldingly urges it upwardly which will be in a direction to rock the plate orbar 21 into an oblique position and bind the spindle 23 of the presser foot. The presser foot spindle willv thus 'be normally f locked bythe clutch plate or bar 21, and may be'released by depressing` the rear end of the i lever 26. o i

In the use of this machine, the presser foot and its supportng and Operating means may be applied Vasa unit to the standard frame 1 by looseningthe bolt 7 and sliding the tongue 13 beneath the head 9 of the bolt 7, and then y tightening the 'Wing nut S. This places the presser foot immediately in front of the cutter l, and the pre'sser foot is provided with a slot which embraces the cutter 4 from .the

Vdirection of its cntting edge, and thusfthe'cutter blade 4 reciprocates through the presser foot. The presser foot will normally be held in any adjusted position by the binding action of the plate or bar 21 which isheld in' an oblique position by the action of the spring 29. One may, while grasping the handle 6, depress the rear en'd of the lever 26V with a finger of the hand grasping the handle 6, .which act will'rock the plate 21 into a position in which its plane is Substantially normal to the spindle 23.V This releases the spindle and the latterwill fall until it Strikes the cloth pile being cut. Upon releasingthe lever 26, the spring 29 will, through theleverv V '26, return the plate or bar 21 into its oblique position in which it looks the spindle 23 i against upward movement. f The presser foot may be moved upwardly, how'ever, by first depressing the lever 26to rockthe plate or bar 21 into releasing position as limited i 23 in order to provide means for lockingit'in ,adjusted positions, andf the plate 16, lever 26,

and plate or'bar 21 niay all'beformed fi'oin stainped sheet metal. The 'assembly of the parts for controlling tlie presser foot spindle is comparatively simple, because there are'V very few screws to be used..- rlfheattachment lor i'cinoval of the presser foot aiid its coiitrolimg :mechanism as a' unitis possible iii asimpie mannei' by niei'ely loosening or. tighten-v ing tlie bolt 7.. w A

It willvbe obvious'that various changes in the details which have been hereiii described and illustrated in order to explain the invention maybe made by those skilled iii the art within the principle and scope of'the' invention as ezx'pressed in the appended claims.

I claim as iny invention:

1.`Ina cloth cuttiiig machine, a standard frame, a' cuttei' inounte-d on'saidframev for ciitting movements,.a handle extendingfrom said fraine by whichthe machine may be 'guidech a bracket member detachably secui'ed te'one'side face of said frame and' having an arin extending around tlie forward faceof the frame, a presser foot having a'spindle slidably carried by said' ai'm of tlie bracket Vmember for movement toward and from the cloth to be cut, a cliitch carried bythe member and controlling the movements 'of said spindle relatively to the cloth being cut, and a 'controlling eleinent for saidzclutch 'carried by said member-and having an operating'arm extending into proximityto the handle so as to be eperable by a. fingerof one,s hand while that hand is grasping the handle and manipulating the frame relativoly to the cloth.

2. In a cloth cuttinginachine, a standard frame, a cutterinounted on said frame lfor Cutting movemcnts, a'handle extending, from said frame by whichV the machine maybe gnided and manipulated, a bracket member ed, a' presser foot mounted oii said frame for detachably secured to said frame, a pres-ser foot carried by said bracket member for ino venient from and towards the cloth to be cutand having a spindle, a plate through which said spindle' passes, said bi'acket ineinber having` a fulcrum for said platepermitting a limited rocking movement of theplate :to bind or release the spindle, and means including-an Operating member extending in pi'oximity to the handle so as to be operable by a finger of ones hand while that hand is vgi'asping the handle, for rocking the plate `into position in which it releases the spindle to permit inoveinent of thelattei'toward and from the clothfbeing cut.

3. Iii a cloth cutting'machine, a standard frame, `a ciitter mounted on said frame for cutting moveineiits, a handle extendinglfrom said frame by which themachine may be `manipulated, a presser foot having a spindle carried by said frame for movement toward and fromtheclothtobe cut,-a plate havinga slot from face tov face through which the spindle passes in a dii'ection normal thereto with a limited `clearance, said plate being rockably ,supported by said frame, so as to be'ino'vable ;into 'and ,out-of. a position in which it binds the spindle, and means for rocking the plate iii a direction too-releaseV the presser foot spintrolled by the fingers of'one7s`hand while that hand isigrasping thehandle andinanipulating the frame.

4. In a'cloth cuttingmachiiie, a standard frame, a presser` foot mounted-for movement i toward and from theclotli being cut andhav-r ing aspindle, a plate rockabl-y mounted on said frame 'and through ;wh'ichthe spindle passes inv anl approximately normal relation thereto, whei'eby the plate will have Va limited rocking movement'between positions in which' it binds oi' f-rees the spindle, and means for rocking the plate including a controlling member accessible for operationfiby a` fing'er 'of one7s hand while that hand is graspingthe handle and manipulating the frame. o

5. In a clotli Cutting machine, a frame, a' i presser foot inounted thereon ,foif inoveinent toward and from the cloth beingl cutand hav- 'ing a spindle, a plate through which the spindle passes with a slight cleai'ance, said plate being mounted on said frame foi'-rocking movement between positions and in directions ,in whiehit binds and frees the spindle, means lCO yielding'ly urging the rockng plate in afrocking direction to bind' the spindle and pi'event" niovement of the pressei' foot, including acontrolling inember accessible formanipulation from the fingers of one7s hand while that hand' isgrasping the handle and vmanipulat- .ing the frame. w v. i' i 6. In aV cloth Cutting machine, a frame, a ,handle by which the frameina'y be manipulatmovement toward and froin 'the' cloth being cut, and Vhaving a spindleextending in the di'- rection of movement, a lplate mounted for rocking inovement on said frameand through which said spindle extends, whereby the rockplate is received, said level' having an' arm movement ofsaid plate, and a 'lever mounted. i Voii said frame and having a slot in which the extending into Vproxinfiity vtoV the handle, I

whereby the lever may beoperated to release the spindle, by Vthe fingers of .thehand which may be grasping the handle and manipulating the frame-without i'eniovin'g thehand from the handle. a o f 7 In a' cloth Cutting machine,.a frame, a

handle by which the frame may be manipiilated,a presserfoot mounted on saidframe'for.

movementtoward and from the clothtbeing cut, and having a spindle extending in the direction of movement, a plate mountedv for roclnng mo Vement on sald frame and through which said spindle extends, whereby the rock- `ing of the plate 'wlll blnd or free the spindle,

said frame having means 'to'hmit rocking V n'iovement; of said plate, a lever mounted Von said frame'and having ,a slot inl which the plate is received, said lever having an arm extending intoproximity to the handle,

whereby the lever may be operated to release` ,the spindle bythe fingers offithehand which may be grasping`= the handle. and ;manipulating" the frame without removlng the hand from the handle, and spring means yieldablyV urging the plate' in a direction .to b'ind the Lit) ` dle.

spindle. i i

8. In a cloth cuttlng machine, a frame, a

handle by whichithe frame may be manipulated, a presser foot mounted on said 'frame v,for moveme'nt toward and from the' cloth bemg cut, and'having a spindle extendingrjin vto releasethe spindle by the fingers of the hand which may be graspingthe handle and -manipulating the frame without removing the hand from the handle,'and a leaf spring carried by the frame and bearing upon" an arm' ofsaid lever for urging it, and through it the-plate, 'in a direction to bind the spin- 9. In a clothfcutting machine, a, standard frame, a cutter carrled by the frame, a handle'on the frame by which 1t may be manipulated, a presser foot-mounted on said frame'A for movement towardand from' the cloth beijng cut and having a spindle extending in the direction of movement, said-frame. having a wallV extending approximately parallel to the spindle and having aslot therein, a plate passing through said slot and roclable upon the walls of the slot asa fulcrum, said plate having also a slot through whichthe spindle extends, and means for rocling the plate ,to bind or free the'spindle. i

'1.0.' In a cloth Cutting machine, a standardframe, a cuttercarried by the frame, a

f'handleon the Vframe by which it may be manipulated, a presser foot mounted on said 'frame for movement toward and from the cloth beingcut and having a spindle extending in the direetion of movement, said frame having a wall extending approximately parallel to the spindle and having al slot therein, a plate passing through said slot and rockableupon thewalls of the slot as a fulcrum,

-said plate having also a slot through' which the spindle extends, and a leverhaving a slot receiving an armof the plate, whereby operation of the lever will rock the plate,-said lever having an arm extending into pr'oximity to the handle. a

11; In a clothzeutting ard frame,a cutter carried by the frame,.a

'handle on the frameby'which it maybe manipulated, a presser' foot mou'nted onzsaid machine, a Standframe for movement toward and from the cloth being cut and having a spindle' extending in the direction of movement,saidframe having a lWall extending approximately par-` allel tothe spindle andihaving a slot therein, a plate passingthrough 'said slot 'and rockable upon the walls oftheA slot as a fulcrum, said plate having also a slot through Whichthe spindle'extends, a lever having a slotreceivi ing an arm of theplate, whereby operation 'ofV the lever Will rock the plate, said lever having an arm extending lnt-o proX-imityto the handle, and sprmg means for urgmg the plate yieldingly in a direction to bind the spindle.

12. In a cloth Cutting machine, astandard frame .having va handle extendilfig'later-v v'allyj therefrom and'by which it may Vbe inavnipulated, a bolt passing through thel frame froin face to face, a bracket having a slot,`

slid'able along a face'of the frame into and out of embraclng relation to the shankof the bolt, Whereby it may be clamped intol position by vtightening of the bolt, a presser footmounted on said bracket for movement toward and from the jcloth being cut, and a clutch device carried by the bracket for controlling the movements of the presser foot o and having a controlling member in proximity to the handle formanipulation by a finger of one,s hand while that hand is grasping the handle and manipulating the frame- 713. In a cloth Cutting machine, a standard frame having a handle extending laterally therefrom and by which it may be-manipulated, said frame having a channel eX- tending in a direction toward and from the cloth being cut, and in a direetion approxi- ,o mately'normal to the plane of the cloth, a-

plate eoveringithechannel to form th'erewith a bearing passage, Aa presser foothaving a spindle sliding in said'channel, said plate having a slot extending' vfrom an edge thereand rockable'upon a slot wall as a fulcrum, said bar having a slot; through which the spin- Vdle passes and by ,which thel spindle may be bound in adjusted positions by rocling of the bar into a position oblique to the aXis of the 'of in a plane transverse to the ,axis 'of the spindle, a bar 'extending' through said slot 129 i spindle, and means'for rocking the bar to freefor bindthe spindle.

14. In a cloth Cutting machine, a standard frame havinga handle extending latera-lly' therefrom and byfivvhich it may bemanipulated, said frame having a channel extending in a direct-ion toward and from the cloth being i p cut, and in a direction approximately normal to the plane of the cloth, a plate covering the channel to vform therewith a bearing passage,

Va presser vfoot having a spindle sliding in said channel, said plate having a slot eX- tending froni an edge thereof in a plane transverse to the axis of the' spindle, a bar eX- tending through said slot and rockable upon. a slot wall as a fulcrum, said Vbar having va slot through which the' spindle passes and: .by wliich the spindle may be bound in adjusted positions by roeking vof the barV into a position oblique to theaxis of the spindle,

means for rocking the bar to free or bind the' spindle, and spring actuated means foi'` urging the bar in a direction to bind the spindle, but operable to free the bar when desired.

15. In a clotli cutting machine, a standard frame havino' a handle extendinfr laterall therefromand by whicli it may be manipulated, said frame having a channel extending in a direction towaijd and from the cloth beiiig cut, and in a direction approximately normal to the plane of the cloth, a plate cover-v ving the channel `to form therewith a bearing passafre, a presser foot having a spindle slid-v ing in said channel, said plate having a slotv extending from an edge thereof in a .plane transverse to the aXis of the spindle, a bar eX- tending through said slot and rockable upon a slot wall as a fulcrum, said bar havinga slot through which the spindle passes and bywhich the spindlemay be boiind in adjusted positions byrocking'of the bar into a position oblique to the aXis of the spindle, and

` alever pivoted to saidplate and having a. 'slot receiving the bar, whereby the bar inay vbe rocked to bind or free the spindle byoperation of said lever.

16. In a cloth Cutting machine,.a standard frame having aV liandle extendiiig laterallyl therefrom and by which it may-bemanipiilated, said frame having a channelextending in a direction toward and from the cloth being cut, and in a direction approximately normal.

to the plane of the cloth, arplate covering I the channel to form therewith a bearing lpassage, a presser foot having a spindlesliding in said channel, said plate having a slot eX- tending from an edge thereof in a plane trans-g verseto the axis of the spindle, a bar extending through said slot and rockable upon w a slot. wall asja fulcrum, said bar having a,

slot through whichl the spindle passes and ing in said channel, said platehaving aislot by which the spindle may bebound in adjusted positions by rocking of the bar into a position oblique to the aXis of the spindle,

framelhaving a handle extending laterally tionrof said lever, and a spring acting upon therefrom and by .which it inayj'be mani'pui lated, saidframe having a channel extendin'g in a directiontoward and from the clotli being out,,and in a direction approximately normal. to the plane of the cloth, a plate coveri ing the channel to'form therewitha bearing'v passage, a presser foot havinga spindle slidextending` from an edge thereof in a plane transv'erse to the aXis of the spindle, a bar extending through said Vslot and rockable upon a slot wall as a fulcrum, said bar having a slot through which the spindle passes and by which the spindle may be bound in ad'- justed `positions by-rocking vofzthe bar into a position oblique to-the axis of the spindle, and

a'lever pivoted to said plate and having aV slot receiviiig the bar, wherebythe barmay arm extending into proximityto the handle. 18. In a cloth Cutting machine, ajstandard frame having a handle extendi'ng laterally Atlierefroin and by which it 'in`ay be Inanipuw i 'be roeked'tozbind or free thespindle by op- 'cration of said lever, said lever having' an lated, said frame having a'channel iextend- 7 being cut, and in a direction approximately ,normalV to the plane of the cloth, a .plate covering the channel 1to form therewith a:

spindle' sliding 'in said'v channel, said plate having a slot extending from an edge thereof in a planetransverse to the aXis of the spindle,1afbar extending through said slotandz rookable upon aslotwall as a fulcrum, said in-adjusted positions by rocking of vthe bar` into a positionA oblique to the axis offthe ing in a direct-ion toward and vfrom the cloth vbearing passage, a presser foot having a .i

V bar-having a slot through whichv the spindle i fpasses and by which the spindle may be bound v spindle, alever pivoted to said plate` and havi ing a slot receiving the bar, whereby vthe bar may be rocked to bind or free the spindle by operation of said' lever, said lever having an arin extending into proximity to the handle;V

FREDERICK J. CLARK; 

